Dwayne Johnson‘s upcoming holiday action film Red One has encountered controversy amidst claims of unprofessional behaviour on set. A new report on The Wrap alleges that Johnson’s tardiness during production led to delays that incurred costs of US$50 million, and inflated the film’s budget to US$250 million. Initially scheduled for release last holiday season, the movie’s premiere has been pushed back to 15 November 2024.
The film, directed by Jake Kasdan and produced by Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios, follows an E.L.F. operative and a bounty hunter as they work together to save Christmas. Starring alongside Johnson are Chris Evans, J.K. Simmons, and Lucy Liu.
Insiders from the set claim that Johnson was often late, sometimes by as much as eight hours, forcing the crew to shoot around his schedule. Some allege that he refused to work full days, further contributing to the film’s delays.
The controversy has drawn parallels to earlier instances of Johnson’s tardiness on set, including during his time in the Fast & Furious franchise. Some insiders have also reported that Johnson would avoid public restrooms, opting to urinate in water bottles that were later disposed of by his team.
“On set, away from his trailer, if he needs to pee, he doesn’t go to the public bathroom. He pees in a Voss water bottle and his team or a PA has to dispose of it.”
The allegations sparked concerns over the project’s management, although Amazon MGM has denied the claims, stating that Red One has been well-received in testing and owes its success to Johnson’s commitment.
“Dwayne Johnson and Seven Bucks have been incredible partners on Red One — a film that audiences of all ages are going to love this holiday season. Our testing has been very strong — the reaction from CinemaCon speaks for itself — and we couldn’t have made it without Dwayne’s constant work and support. Any reporting that implies that we got to this point with him showing up seven-eight hours late to set is both ridiculous and false.”
As Johnson’s Hollywood career transitions back to professional wrestling, with a return to the WWE Board of Directors and in-ring appearances, he remains involved in various film projects. This includes The Smashing Machine, where he portrays MMA fighter Mark Kerr, and contributions to a Moana animated sequel and live-action remake.
Red One opens in cinemas on 15 November.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing Honkai: Star Rail, cosplaying, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
Trinity Sun
